By Leslie Acosta Enriquez, Staff Reporter
November, 2021
I walked into the building with ripped jeans, a baggy shirt, and some Air Jordans. The outfit was cute and I was ready for the day, when all of a sudden I was stopped by an administrator because my outfit was “unprofessional” and “out of dress code” I felt humiliated and upset. I had been dress-coded many times before but, this time, I finally realized that the reason for the dress code was to restrict me and my body.
The KAC dress code prohibits ripped jeans, crop tops, short shorts, and tank tops. Most, if not all of these restrictions, mainly target female students. Many female students get dress-coded on a daily basis which takes away time from their education causing them to fall behind. I have seen this first hand as many of my friends have been victims of these norms. This year, KAC has stopped holding students in the office but started to give them demerits for being out of the dress code. This is still a problem because many of them are having lunch meetings as well as lunch detention.
Is it unfair? Yes. I think this dress code policy objectifies and restricts women by telling them what they can and can’t wear. What is and isn’t appropriate. That their knees and shoulders are distracting and therefore need to be covered up. This wouldn’t be a problem if every student had the same restrictions when it comes to the dress code, but that is not the case. Many male students wear ripped jeans and muscle shirts and don’t get dress coded. For instance, I have seen boys take off their shirts and walk around with their undershirts. Some wear very ripped jeans and don’t get in trouble. Why? The answer seems to be because the dress code is a double standard policy where female bodies are being objectified and male bodies aren’t. Boys are seen as just another human and as a student. So why aren’t we? Why are we as females being seen as more than just students and children?
The sad truth is that our bodies have been objectified for many years, in workplaces, in the media, and on the streets. It’s troubling that our dress code policy seems to continue this objectification. The people that are supposed to teach us, enlighten us, and inspire us are not supposed to perpetuate this social standard and sexism towards girls.
EDITOR’S NOTE: KAC principal Janice Lopez was not interviewed for this opinion piece, but she would like students to know that her door is open and she is happy to talk with students about the dress code and its enforcement.
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